Happy endings...

A lot of time and effort goes into the process of choosing a novel.  We are told that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover; but I disagree.  That's the first thing I look at, the cover art. Never knowing what to expect, I look for certain things: is the cover sexy; does it  have anything to do with the location; what about the atmosphere, is it mysterious or just dark, and are the characters realistic? Then I go to the last few pages to see if my happily-ever-after ending stands to reason.  If not, the book goes back on the shelf, and I move on to another.  I'll admit, my criteria may appear shallow to some, and they may think I wear rose colored glasses, but I enjoy knowing that in the end, not only am I guaranteed a deep pleasurable sigh, but the main characters are too. As the inscription  over the door of the Library of Thebes reads, books are "medicine for the soul."